Health exerciser



M'ay24,1932. M, w, Mc'ARDL-E 1,859,976

HEALTH EXERCISER Filed Dec. 12. 1929 2 sheets-Sheet 2 hasheretofore beenknown, wherein the driv-v ing motor is placed in the base of the machine1 which rests upon the 'fioorand wherein a plat- Patented May 24 1932are r TE MICHAEL QMCARDLE, OFCHICAGQ, ILLIN61$ i I (HE LT EXnnoIsEaApplication filed December12, 1929. Serial at. 413,614.

My invention relates to; health exercisers and'has special reference tothe type adapt.

form" is provided, movable between an in operative positionabove thebase and an operative position into which it is fastened to permit theuser to stand thereon, eliminating the necessity of fastening themachine toa suitable support during operation. In the inoperativeposition of theplatform, the floor space occupied by the machine issubstantial- 1y smaller than for other machines havingplatforms. I

Another object is the provision of a machine which may be'easily movedaboutwith in the house and placed in inconspicuous or concealed placeswhen not in use. 7

I have also aimed to'provide a machine which may beeconomicallymanufactured.

I have further aimed to provide an exer-" ciserh'avii'ig improved meansof operating an oscillatingmember characterized by the location ofthe'motor in the-base and the' provision ofenclosed"intermediate'mechanism for. transmitting motion from the base.in its operative position;

to the oscillating member. 7 H V Another object is the provisionv of,improvelf means for producing oscillating m0 tion of the rocker. arm. I

Other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent to thoseskilledin the art from the following description and the,

accompanying drawings in.which' showing the'base and platform insection, the inoperative position of the platform being shown in dottedlines; V

Fig. 2 is a section on the line Fig. 3 is a section similar to thatshown I 2-2 o f Fig." 1 sh owing the means for locking the platform" 7 rp 'fto be described 'An opening 15 may be pro in F l'butgon a somewhatlarger scale showlngthe caster arrangement;

Fig.4 Isa section on the line 4+4: of Fig. 1; t

Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line 5 5 of Fig.

1 showing the head inlsection;

5 showing the rocker arm and actuating. mechan1sm,and

Fig.6. is a sectionon the line 6-67 ofFigu Fig. 7 is a section onthelinei-7 "7 of.Fig. 4

6 showing a vertical section through the" rocker arm and rockerarmfcrank. Pfi- The machine consists generally; of a base arranged torest upon the fioor and house-the drivingmotor, an operating head'supported from the base'by suitableoiuprights, and'fa platform arrangedto movebetween anoper atlve position restingupon' the floor and, an

inoperative position above the base. "The operating head is. driven fromthe motor in the base bymeans of a belt passing'through.

the supporting upright. Movementof the platform fromthe operative to'the inoperative position causes a .pluralityof casters to be forced outof the base lifting theamachine and pp ng itupon the casters.-

Movement -of the platform fromtheinoper- -ativeto the operative positioncauses there-f traction of the casters letting the machinedowns'olidlyyonto the base; Meanjs jare pro-' vided for locking theplatform in its. ioperati-ve position. 1

"Referringnow.to" the drawingsrFigszfl f v.1; to, 4, the numeral 10indicates generally.the 7 base offlthe 'ma'chinearranged to support theremainder "of the operating. me chanismfi- Whilethisbase may be-of anydesired shape I I have found it convenienttogiv'e ita. b'ox* V like'shape, iii.,order to-completel-y. eove'rfthe 1 motor; and provide itsfront'top portion with a downwardly inclined face, as .indicate'diat=l1.- If desired,.this fac e 1 1 m'ay:be proa" such as rubber orth'e?like uponlwhichthe;

openings 14 to-"receive -theuprightspresently vided in the back wall ofgthe base through 'vided;withaipad l210f'corrugatedinaterial L port themotor board 20 through screws 21.

A driving motor 22 having a pulley" 23*arranged to drive the belt 24: issupported on the motor board 20. It will be seen that the.

ledges 19 are so positioned as to support the motor board 20 a verysmalldistance from the floor when the base rests upon its lower edge 18,whereby the assembled base possesses a very lowcenter of gravity.

In order to provide a place for the user of the machine to stand and tostabilize the machine against forces which will presently becomeapparent, the platform indicated generally by 25 is provided. Theplatform consists of two parallely disposed sideportions 26 and a topportion 27 having a horizontally" disposed part 28 and aninclinecl part29. The platform may bev covered on its top with a corrugated softmaterial such asrubber 30, if. desired. Side arms 31 attached to .the'platform on either side by means of screws 32, lie along the sides ofthe base 10 and serve to support theplatform 25 thereon. "A crank 33having an eccentric pin 34: is rotatably positioned in each side of thebase 10 through :11 center pin-35 havinga bearing in the side walls ofthe bases The arms 31 are positioned upon the center pins 35 at eachside of the base 10 through screws 36, the crank 33 andv center pin 35being the operator may grasp the platform at the hand'holes 37 and raiseit: from the oper-' ative position shown in full lines in Fig. 1

.to the'inoperative position shown in dotted lines in the same figure.

CIn order to provide a simple and easy way' of moving the machine fromplace to'place in the house and permit it to be moved to aninconspicuous place; There arranged to have casters projected downwardfrom [the base I of the machine when the platform is moved from'itsoperative to its inoperative position.

It should be observed that-in thisoperation' the platform is'mo-vedoutjofc'ontact with the fioor'and the castersare simultaneously projected from the base, thus-.permitting-the sockets 41 are positioned onthe outer end of machine to be rolled along the'floor. Inorderto-accomplish this I have provided caster arms 38, two of which are:attached on each side of the base to pins 39 positionedin the sideofthebase. The caster arms are ajr ranged to rotate about the pins 39and are held in position by'cotter pins 40., Caster arranged to rotatewith rotation'ofthe armssame lane. 31. Itwill be seen that by thisarrangement p assa /e the caster arms 38 and arrangedto support castersof any suitable/type indicated generally by 42. Slots 43 having slidableengagement with the eccentric pin3d of the crank '33, are positionedonthe innerend of each caster arm. When the platform 25 is rotatedfrom'itsoperative position to its inoperative position the crank 33 willbe .rotated moving the eccentric pin 34 to the upper position in slotsa3 and raising the inner ends of the caster arms 38. When this occursthe caster sockets 41 will be moved downward projecting the casters 42through openings 44 in the motor board 20, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 3; Projection of the casters 42 cause.

the lower edges 18 of the base to be lifted free from thcfloor asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. The whole machine may then be rolledalong a level surfaceas will be obvious. I V 7 In order that theplatform 25 may serve to stabilize the base 10 and hold it fixedly tothe floor under the weight of the user during the operation of themachine, I have provided means for fixedly securing the platform to thebase when the'platform is in its operativ-e position. "To this end acrank 45 hav-.

ing a finger knob 46 isrotat'ably positioned in the front wall of thebase 10 through a pin 47 fixedly connected to the crank. The inner endof the pin 47 is fixedly connected to a I cross-bar 48 which is providedwith a crank pin .49 on each end.

The crank pins 49 en-v gage slots 50 and 51 formed on the inner end i ofthe rods 52 and 53 the rods being posi tioned on substantially the samehorizontal center line. The 'slot, 50 extends upward from the centerline and the slot 51 extends downward therefrom in substantially thecrank pins :9 :within the slots 50 and 51.

Cotter pins 54 maintain the The. rods 52 and 53 are slidably positionedin bearings 55and '56 attached to the front wall of the base 10, andhave'their outer ends 57 and-.58slidably'pcsitioned in openings 59 and60in the side wall of the base 10. Referring ,to' Figs. 1:and 2,, itwill be seen that when the crank 45 is turned in a clockwise directionthe bar 48 will be similarly turned, thepins 7 {L9 moving along theslots 50 and 51 and drawing the rods 52 and 53inward, whereby the v endsof thelatter 57 and 58 will be drawn out 7 of the openings 61 and 62 ofthearms31. In

like manner when the crank 45- is turned in a counter-clockwisedirectionthe rods 52 and 53 will be projected outward into the open-.

ings 61 and 62 of the arms whereby the platform 25 is held "firmlyin itsoperative position. 'lVhen the rods 52 and 53 are withdrawn from theopenings 51 and62, as previously described,'the platform 25' may berotated-to-thedotted line position shown in "Fig. 1. The casters 42 aresimultaneously projected downward lifting the base from vantageouslyprovided with side walls -77.

bemoved over the floor-with ease; 1

While the upright portion ofthe 'machinef. may be of any desired shape Ihave arranged.

to provide two pipes or tubular members,

indicated generally by 63 and 64,'having their lower ends positioned inthethreaded open-' ings 14 of the base 10, insuch wise as to receive theparallel flights of the belt 24 coming-- from the pulley 23.- A head,designated generallyby 65, is positioned on the upper end of the tubularuprights, as shown inFig.

5. The lower end of the'head 65is provided withtwosplit collars66and-6'Z, the collar 66 a being arranged to'slide over theftop 0f thecylindrical upright'63 andthe collar 67 being arranged to slideover thetop of' the upright 64.1 Each of the collars 66- and 67 are providedwith a projection 68 having a} tappedand threaded opening69 and a proection 70 through which the'bolt'7l may-pass. The bolt 71 is providedwith a shank 72 ar-' ranged to bearagainst theprojection 70 wherebyrotation of the bolt'will cause the collar to be drawntogether,tightening the collar about the upper end of the upright 63 or 64. Thebolts 71 are provided with extensions 7 3 upon which various accessoriesused with the machine suchias the-strap or belt may be hung, theextensions also serv-' ing as handles to be grasped in moving-the devicearound. Screw threaded sleeves 74 and 75 are positioned about theuprights 63 and 64 near their upper ends and thread thereon as at 76.The collars 66 and 67 slide down over the end of the uprights'63 and 64until they come in contact with the upper edges of the screw sleeves 74and75. The

bolts 71 are then tightened, thereby tighten ing the head'65 upontheuprights 63 and 64. However, should the belt 24, presently tobe 1described, become loose the bolts 7 l may be loosened, thereby looseningthe head 65 on the uprights '63 and 64. The screw threaded sleeves 74and7 5 arethen turned to raise the head65 to tightenthe belt under thedesired tension; 1

The operating head, 65 which may beadand78, a v shaped front wall 79,and a removable rear wall is positioned upon the uprights 63 and 64as'already indicated. A: web 81is formed on the inner face'of the head65 and 'serves to support a bearing 82 within which a shaft 83 isjournaled, A pulley 84' is fixedly positioned on the rear end of theshaft 83 by means ofa key 85 and nut 86 bearing82 and shaft 83 being sopositioned as to support the pulley 84 vertically above the and place ittioned. within-the operating head :65 below the pulley 84 and to eachside thereof and serve to direct the belt 24 inwardso that the it twoflightsthereof'will operate thehollow' uprights 63 andf64 insubstantially parallel mitting' the? uprights to be placed close to-.

gether" l -P ys 87 and 88' are sup" a 7 5 the front of theoperating'head 65 as shownported upon shafts 8.9- and 90 threaded intoin-Fig.. 5.2 The forward end of thevshaft 83 isprovided with a crank 91and pin 92. The

crank pin 92 has rotatable engagement with I engagement with an offsetsleeve- 94, oifset iv a bearing block .93 which inturn has slidable fromthe center .of rotation of a rocker arm 95.. B'ythis arrangement rotarymotion of the shaft 83 will be translated into horizontal oscillatingmotion at the sleeve 94. The rockerarm 95 is positioned in the front 791 :of theoperating head'65 in a slot 96.. Apin 97.passing throughpars98 and 99 of the front 79, and through the rockerjarm 95, permits thearm to rotate about "itsdcenter atwhich point it is suspended by thepin-97, i

held in position by means of aset'screw 100. Obviously, oscillatinghorizontal motion of V I the sleeve 94 will cause oscillating movementof the ends'101 and 102 of the rocker arm;95.; V

A recess 103-is providedlinthetop of the bearing block93 and has anopening 104 to; the; eccentric pin 92. This'recess is arranged;

to hold a quantity of cotton or otherab-f sorbent. material 105 which issaturated with 100 011 whereby constant lubrication. of thebearto beattached to the ends 101 and: 102 ofthe rocker arm-95.: It is throughthis strap that the oscillating movementof thjeiarm 95 is transferred tothe; user: Since; this strap forms no part 'ofmy invention it has notbeen. described. or illustrated,.suifice it to say that depressions 106are. provided along the-rocker to be attached at different distancesfrom the lug isass'ured. A strap. orx bandywhich is l passed-around thebody of the user is adapted a center 97'to Varythe throw of eachoscillation, In use'the strap. applicator is wrapped: about a certainpart of thebody. The user then draws away from the ma chine placing a,tension on the strap whereby the oscillatlons are 't'ransmittedto thebody.-;

' Manifold advantages of my improvedcon- I V I I structionwill havebecome-apparent. The

greater partofthe weight of the machi'ne lies within'the confines ofthebase 10; .plnopera. threaded on the-rear end of thexshaft 83, the

tion, this base is arranged to rest squarely I 25 iii 'itsflgfyperative'position i is securely fastened to the; base: 10.. The operator stands Yupon this plat-form. when using the machine a very low center. of'graIvityf The platform I:

arm to permit theends ofband or applicator, a I i andconsequeutlyholds'the, Wholemachine down upon thefloor so that great strain im- V.

posed upon the enos lOl 3116.102 of the arm 95 do not tip themachineover. In some uses of themachme one foot of the operator will beplaced-upon the platform 25 and'one 1 foot upon the inclined of thebase, thus "throwing the full Weightof the body. backward inst theapplicator. It will be clear tl at even in this position a portion ofthe bodys weight rests on the platformand base and prevents the tensionon the arn'r 95 from tippingthemachineover. l loweverpvhenthe machi evisnot'in use the lever 15 is rotated,

" releasing the platform 25 which may thenv be; raised toits inoperativeposition. When this is done the casters 42 are automatically ingthebelt. It Will be seen that because of the .motor being positionedWithin the base otherwise possible.

10, it-is possible to suhstantially reduce the size of the operatinghead 65 beyond that All of the moving parts of the' machine with theexception of the arm 95 are completely enclosed; There are no exposedparts from, which the user may contract grease or dirt. Parts normallydangerously attractive to children such 'as the bolt 24, are completelyenclosed. "It should be observed that a large percentage of the users ofthese machines are a H women who employ them in the home to keeptheirweight: down. In many instances their duties involvethe care ofchildren, which must be done, among other times, when the machines arein use.

as Well a'stopresent no point-from which they collect dirt and grease.

'lVhil-e I havethus described and illus- H trated a specific embodimentof 'my lllVQYl.

" out tion I am aware that numerous alterations? and changes may be madetherein, Without materially departing from the spirit of the lnventionand I do not wish to be limited except as requiredby theprior art andthe scope of the appended claims, in which I claim-z 1. A'healthexerciser comprising a base,

7 arranged to rest upon the floor and having its topiormed to serve as aplatform for the user, a head, an arm adapted "to be oscillated,positioned upon said head, hollow upright mean sextending upwardly fromthe base for supporting said head upon 'saidbase with the armdisposedina predetermined desired relation tothe platform, amotor positionedwith- It is, therefore, -im-' portant that such a machine be soconstructed. as to be harmlessto children playing about in said base andenclosed thereby, and means extending through said hollow upright 'suparm totransmit motion thereto.

,2. A health exerciser comprising, abuse '-arranged to normally restupon the floor, an

operatinghead adapted to be supported above vporting means connectingsaid motor and said said base, a motor mounted on a fixed support withinsaid base and having a pulley on its armature shaft, an arm positionedupon said head arranged to be oscillated about a central point, a pulleyin said head, means operated by the pulley for oscillating the arm, a i

belt passing over said pulleys, at least one vertically positionedtubular upright ar ranged to support said head upon said base andenclose said belt, andmeans for adjusting the elevation of theheadrelative to the base whereby thetension on said belt maybe varied. j V 12 3; A health exerciser comprising, a base arshaft of said motor, anoperating head adapted to be supported above said base, anarm positionedupon said headarranged tobe osranged to normally rest upon the floor,a'driv ingmotor mounted on a fixed support in said base, a pulleypositionedupon' the armature cillated, means including a pulleypositioned in the head for oscillating said arm, a belt connecting saidmotor pulley and said vlast' namedpulley, at least one tubular uprightarranged to support'saidhead upon saidb'ase and enclose said belt, and asleeve threaded upon said tubular upright serving normally to supportthe head thereon but also arranged when turned to raise or lower saidhead upon said upright and accordingly adjust the tension' of the belt;

4;. A health exerciser having an operating head, a supporting baseadapted to. normally ,restuponthe floor, at least one upright supportingsaid head upon said base, an oper-Q ating mechanism positioned upon saidhead,

and a motor arranged to drive saidmechw nism,one or more transportingmembers positioned in said base,a platform for the user movable from anextended operative position to a retracted inoperative position, andmeans operated in such movement of said platform forprojectmg saidmembers from said'bas'e whereby said base is lifted. fromlits normalposition in contact with the floor andsup-s ported uponsaid'transporting members to permit easy movement of the healthexerciser from place to place. I

5. In a health exerclser having an1operat-j ing head, a base,andmeans'for supporting thehead upon-the base, a pluralitvof caster arms.pivotally positioned intermediate their ends within said base, casterspositioned on one end of said caster arms arranged. to be projected andretracted by movement of the opposite ends of said arms, a platformforthel user movable from an extended operative position to aretractedinoperative'position, and: V

i it

I means operated in such movement of said platform for simul aneouslymoving the free ends of said caster arms whereby said'casters'aresimultaneously and uniformly-fprojected or retra'cte'd'to movesaidbase between its normal position upon the fioor'andapositionsupported upon said casters. y c

6. In a health exerciserhavingan ,operatinghead, and means, forsupporting the head .upon a base having the top front portion thereofformedoutwardly and downwardly inclined relative to the head to serve asone. platform for resting onelfoot of the user or c for the user tostand .upon, and a hinged platform'upon which the user nay'stand ori-estv the other foot, connected to the base and arranged to'move betweenan operative positionin contact withthe floor in front of the base whenin use and an inoperativeposition relative to the head to provide aplatform for the user, a second'platform upon WlllCh.

the user may stand, arranged to move between an operative position incontact with the floor in front of the base in a predetermineddesiredrelation to the aforesaid plat- 7 form and an inoperative position abovethe base, and means forpivotally supportlng the platform upon the base.V

8; In a health exerciser of the character described having an operatinghead, abase,

and means for supporting the headupon the. v V I over. the base to anoperative positi on V resting.

base, a plurality of casters positioned within the base adapted to bemoved between a proj ected position wherein the'base is supportedthereon anda retracted position wherein the base rests upon the floor, aplatform attached i to said base adapted to movebetween an operativeposition in contact with the floor andan inoperative position above thebase, said i'on'the' floor in front of thebase and in a prede- V iplatformbeing arranged to permit the user to stand. thereon when in itsoperative posi{ tion, and means for causing sa1d casters to be 1 i.13101801366]. when sa1d platform is moved from its operative to itsinoperative position and retracted when said platform is moved from itsinoperative to its operative position.

9. In a health exerciser of the character described having an operatinghead, a base, and means for supporting the head upon the p base, aplatform upon which the user may stand, pivotally connected tothe baseand arranged to swing between an operative position incontact with thefloor infront of the 3 the pivoted bits P i QPOsitio-n; P

base when in use andan inoperative'position above the basewhen notinuse, and means for fastening the platform in its operative posi tion'whereby to prevent relativemovement between the base, and platform andprevent? tipping-of the device. I, J- r "fl 10. In ahealthfexerciser of,the character described, having an operating head, a base, and means forsupporting the head upon the base,-a plurality of casters positionedwithin' the base adapted to be moved between apijo jected positionwhereinthe base is'suppo'rted thereon and aretracted position whereinthe base'rests upon the floor, a platform. attached to said base adaptedto move between an oper ative position in con-tac't ;wit h".the floor infront of the base and an inoperative position above the base, saidplatform being arranged;

permitusertostand thereon when in its operative position, means forcausing said casters to be pro ected when said platform is moved fromits operative to its inoperativepositionand retracted whensaidplatformis I moved from its; inoperativeto,.itsf'operative position,and means for locking said plat-= formin its operativejpositionq 1 11. Amachine of the-character described 1 comprising a hollow base arrangedto" rest" ing the head, a motor mountedinsaid base.

'uponthe, floor, an operating, head abovethe base, a hollow; supportextending upwardly" :from the rear portion of the basefor support belowthe hollow support,;means extending upwardly from the motor: through thehollow" support tothe head totransmit drive tothe latter,- said, basehavingTthe; rear ,portion thereof highenough to'provide enclosure f Jfor the 'motor'but having the fronttop poriform for the user to standupon or resta foot} base to swingfrom an. inoperativeposi tion on thefloorfin fro'nt of, theibaselan d in apre eluding "a platform .pivotallymounted on the base to. swing from an inoperative. 'po 'sition over thebase to an operative-position resting.

termined relation to the inclined platform provided on the latter, andineansforlocking l j i I atform the base in head for operating an,exerciser applicator, a

tion inclined downwardlytofiserveas a plate I 105 12.- A machine as set.forth in claim'll in.- v r j eluding aplatformpivotally mounted on the14. In amachine-of the character described r 1 comprising; a hollowsubstantially rectanglexlar base, an upright on the base supporting apair oflevers pivotallyjinounted 'on eachof thefopposedside walls ofthebase carrying icasters on the freeendsthereofapproximate i "ly thefour'corners'of the baseyeach pair of levers having their other endsextending a;

"ward each other, a platform having arms reaching alongside the baseandpivot'edto the 'side walls thereof-to permit Swinging moveanientofule'plat from a P'OQtionTesfing on the floor in front ofthebase'to a raised inoperative position over the base, and means hit-V111connection with the ad oi-nin ends'of each pair of levers at theoppositesides ofthe I base for communicating oscillatory move 1o ment to saidlevers in the swinging movement of the platform to raisedpositiomwhereby to pro ect the casters on the levers below, the

plane of thebase, so that the casters assume levers on the adjacent sidewalls, said motor I having detachable con'n'ectionwith the afore saidhead operating means, and a support for the motor removably secured inthe bottom of said tubular supports, said head-being arranged to beadjusted asto elevation with respected to the base whereby'to vary th'etension ojf th e belt, a'ndme'ans forclamping-the split collar portionson said supports in the adjustedposition of the head, the said meanscomprising screws for drawingtogethe'r'the split portions of saidcollars, said screws being elongated at the head portions thereof andextending laterally from, opposite sides of the head and adapted toserve as handles in the transporting of the machine.

v 20. A machine as set forth-in claim 14' ineluding means on the frontwall of said base cooperating with at least one ofthe. arms or thepivoted platform for locking said plat- 7 form in rigid relation to thebase in the operative position of the platform.

In witness of the foregolng nature.

of the base and constituting closure for the Y 7 open bottomof'said'baseu 16. A machineof the character described comprising incombination'ahollow base the top of which 1s formed suitably to serve asa platform for the user to stand upon, a motor mounted in the baseandhaving ap'ulley on the-armature shaft thereof adjacent the rear 1wallof thebase, apair of tubular head supporting members mounted on thebase in parallel relation to one anothenhavingthe two flights of anendless belt extended therethrough for operative connection with said 1pulley, and a head mounted on the upper ends of said members having avibrating mem- 17 A machine as set whereinthe headis slidably receivedon the upper ends of the tubular supports-,the inachine includingsleeves threaded on said supports below the headto support the's'amethereon, said-sleeves being arranged to be turned in'ei ther directionto increase or deber carried thereon and a pulley for operating'the samedisposed therein with the belt I operatively engaging the same.

forth in claim 16,

crease the tension of the belt by adjusting the elevation of the head asa whole with respect to the base. Y

.18," A machine as set forth in claimb 16 wherein the 'head has twosplit collar portions slidably adjustable on thenpper ends of saidtubular supports, said head being ar-' ranged to be adjusted as toelevation with respect to the base'wh'ereby to varythe tension ofthebelt, and means for clamping the split collar portions 011" saidsupports in the adjusted position of the head.

19. A achine as set forth in' 'cl'aim 16 I wherein the head hastwojsplit collar portions slidably adjustable on the upper ends JMIGHAELw. McARDLE. Y

